Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Science fiction novels featuring utopian and dystopian societies are often not what they initially seem.

• How does Westerfeld slowly reveal that his utopian world is a dystopia? (topic sentence)
• Give at least 3 examples of foreshadowing that let the reader know Tally lives in a dystopia.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how these details prepare the reader for Maddy and Az’s revelation about the pretty surgery.

2. Tally eventually comes to accept who she is and what she looks like.

• How does Tally feel about herself (both her appearance and emotional state) at the beginning of the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe at least 3 moments that Tally experiences growth throughout Uglies.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how these moments of growth contribute to Tally’s individuality and her eventual self-acceptance.